Successive phase transformation in ferromagnetic shape memory alloys Co37Ni34Al39 melt-spun ribbons

The martensitic transformation in Co37Ni34Al29 ribbon is characterized in detail by means of in-situ thermostatic x-ray diffraction and magnetic measurements.The results show a structural transition from the body-centred cubic to martensite with a tetragonal structure during cooling.Comparison between the results of the diffraction intensity with the magnetic susceptibility measurements indicates that the martensitic transformation takes place in several different steps during cooling from 273 to 163 K.During heating from 313 to 873 K,the peak width becomes very wide and the intensity turns very low.The γ-phase(face-centred cubic structure) emerges and increases gradually with temperature increasing from 873 to 1073 K.     

Low-temperature heat capacities and standard molar enthalpy of formation of pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylic acid

This paper reports that the low-temperature heat capacities of pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylic acid were measured by a precision automatic calorimeter over a temperature range from 78~K to 380~K. A polynomial equation of heat capacities as a function of temperature was fitted by the least-squares method. Based on the fitted polynomial, the smoothed heat capacities and thermodynamic functions of the compound relative to the standard reference temperature 298.15~K were calculated and tabulated at intervals of 5~K. The constant-volume energy of combustion of the compound was determined by means of a precision rotating-bomb combustion calorimeter. The standard molar enthalpy of combustion of the compound was derived from the constant-volume energy of combustion. The standard molar enthalpy of formation of the compound was calculated from a combination of the datum of the standard molar enthalpy of combustion of the compound with other auxiliary thermodynamic quantities through a Hess thermochemical cycle.     

Unified nonequilibrium dynamical theory for exchange bias and training effects

We have investigated the exchange bias and training effect in the ferromagnetic/antiferromagnetic (FM/AF) heterostructures using a unified Monte Carlo dynamical approach. The magnetization of the uncompensated AF layer is still open after the first field cycling is finished. Our simulated results show obvious shift of hysteresis loops (exchange bias) and cycling dependence of exchange bias (training effect) when the temperature is below 45~K. The exchange bias field decreases with decreasing cooling rate or increasing temperature and the number of the field cycling. Essentially, these two effects can be explained on the basis of the microscopical coexistence of both reversible and irreversible moment reversals of the AF domains. Our simulations are useful to understand the real magnetization dynamics of such magnetic heterostructures.     

Temperature-dependent far-infrared properties of Bi12GeO20 single crystal

Far-infrared reflectivity spectra of bismuth germanium oxide (Bi12GeO20) single crystals are measured from room temperature down to 10 K. All the reflectivity spectra are fitted to a complex dielectric function ε(ω) in the factorised form. Phonon modes at low frequency are found to develop upon decreasing temperature and gain considerable spectrum weight below 150 K. The temperature-dependent static dielectric constants are obtained from the Lyddane-Sachs-Teller relation based on the obtained oscillator parameters. The dielectric constants are found to increase upon decreasing temperature, which is attributed to the charge transfer among the ions in the unit cell with the temperature varying.     

Structure and luminescence of Ca2Si5N8：Eu^2＋ phosphor for warm white light-emitting diodes

We have synthesized Ca 2 Si 5 N 8:Eu 2+ phosphor through a solid-state reaction and investigated its structural and luminescent properties.Our Rietveld refinement of the crystal structure of Ca 1.9 Eu 0.1 Si 5 N 8 reveals that Eu atoms substituting for Ca atoms occupy two crystallographic positions.Between 10 K and 300 K,Ca 2 Si 5 N 8:Eu 2+ phosphor shows a broad red emission band centred at ～1.97 eV-2.01 eV.The gravity centre of the excitation band is located at 3.0 eV-3.31 eV.The centroid shift of the 5d levels of Eu 2+ is determined to be ～1.17 eV,and the red-shift of the lowest absorption band to be ～ 0.54 eV due to the crystal field splitting.We have analysed the temperature dependence of PL by using a configuration coordinate model.The Huang-Rhys parameter S=6.0,the phonon energy ν=52 meV,and the Stokes shift S=0.57 eV are obtained.The emission intensity maximum occurring at ～200 K can be explained by a trapping effect.Both photoluminescence (PL) emission intensity and decay time decrease with temperature increasing beyond 200 K due to the non-radiative process.     

The 2.7 K black-body radiation background reference frame

This paper reports that the directional temperature is used to present a scheme for deducing the velocity of the reference frame where the black-body which produces the 2.7 K radiation background is at rest.The new renormalized relativistic thermodynamics lays the foundations of the method.     

Current-voltage characteristics of individual conducting polymer nanotubes and nanowires

We report the current-voltage (I-V) characteristics of individual polypyrrole nanotubes and poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) nanowires in a temperature range from 300 K to 2 K. Considering the complex structures of such quasi-one-dimensional systems with an array of ordered conductive regions separated by disordered barriers, we use the extended fluctuation-induced tunneling (FIT) and thermal excitation model (Kaiser expression) to fit the temperature and electric-field dependent I–V curves. It is found that the I–V data measured at higher temper-atures or higher voltages can be well fitted by the Kaiser expression. However, the low-temperature data around the zero bias clearly deviate from those obtained from this model. The deviation (or zero-bias conductance suppression) could be possibly ascribed to the occurrence of the Coulomb-gap in the density of states near the Femi level and/or the enhancement of electron-electron interaction resulting from nanosize effects, which have been revealed in the previous studies on low-temperature electronic transport in conducting polymer films, pellets and nanostructures. In addition, similar I-V characteristics and deviation are also observed in an isolated K0.27MnO2 nanowire.     

Temperature dependence of the luminescence properties of LaCl3：Ce crystal

The optical properties of LaCl3：Ce crystal are reported in this paper. Optical transmission spectrum, photoluminescence and time resolved photoluminescence spectra at different temperatures are investigated. It is found that optical transmittance is as high as 80% between 320 nm and 600 nm, and no obvious absorption band is found in this region. Emission intensity and decay time of photoluminescence are quite stable with the change of the temperature between 80 K and 500 K. No thermal quenching is present up to 500 K, and decay time keeps at 17±2 ns. With the increase of the temperature, the whole emission bands and excitation bands present broadening and overlapping, leading to the strengthening of re-absorption of the Ce^3＋ emission, which makes the emission spectra have a red shift trend.     

Analysis of equation of state and thermodynamic functions for trans-decahydronaphthalene up to 200~MPa and 446~K

This paper develops a modified Tait equation of state(EOS) for trans-decahydronaphthalene with four parameters A,B,V0 and P0 being treated as linear functions of temperature.The coefficients contained in these functions are determined through fitting the experimental compression data in the literature between 293 K and 446 K and at pressures from 10 to 200 MPa.Expressions for the thermal expansivity,isothermal compressibility and thermodynamic quantities are deduced and the numerical results are analytically derived.The numerical results show that the precision of the modified Tait EOS developed in this paper is superior to the EOS in the literature.     

Scanning tunneling microscopy study of surface reconstruction induced by N adsorption on Cu (100) surface

The reconstructed structure of Cu (100) surface induced by atomic N adsorption is studied by using scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). The 2D structure of copper boundary between neighbouring N covered islands is found to be sensitive to the growth conditions, e.g. N⁺ bombardment time and annealing temperature. The copper boundary experiences a transition from nano-scale stripe to nano-particle when the substrate is continuously annealed at 623~K for a longer time. A well-defined copper-stripe network can be achieved by precisely controlling the growth conditions, which highlights the possibility of producing new templates for nanofabrication.     

Effect of pressure on the thermal expansion of MgO up to 200~GPa

Constant temperature and pressure molecular dynamics (MD) simulations are performed to investigate the thermal expansivity of MgO at high pressure, by using effective pair-wise potentials which consist of Coulomb, dispersion, and repulsion interactions that include polarization effects through the shell model (SM). In order to take into account non-central forces in crystals, the breathing shell model (BSM) is also introduced into the MD simulation. We present a comparison between the volume thermal expansion coefficient α dependences of pressure P at 300 and 2000~K that are obtained from the SM and BSM potentials and those derived from other experimental and theoretical methods in the case of MgO. Compared with the results obtained by using the SM potentials, the MD results obtained by using BSM potentials are more compressible. In an extended pressure and temperature range, the α value is also predicted. The properties of MgO in a pressure range of 0--200~GPa at temperatures up to 3500~K are summarized.     

Evolution of three-shell onion-like and core-shell structures in （AgCo）201 bimetallic clusters

<正>This paper studies the structural evolution of（AgCo）₂₀₁ clusters with different Co concentrations under various temperature conditions by using molecular dynamics with the embedded atom method.The most stable position for Co atoms in the cluster is the subsurface layer at low temperature(lower than 200 K for the Ag₂₀₀Co₁ cluster).The position changes to the core layer with the increase of temperature,but there is an energy barrier in the middle layer. This makes the Ag-Co cluster form an Ag-Co-Ag three-shell onion-like configuration.When the temperature is high enough[higher than 800 K for（AgCo）₂₀₁ clusters with 50%Co],Co atoms can obtain enough energy to overcome the energy barrier and the cluster forms an Ag-Co core-shell configuration.Amorphization for the onion-like and core-shell clusters is induced by the large lattice misfit at Ag-Co interfaces.The structural evolution in the Ag-Co cluster is related to the release of excess energy.     

Recombination during expansion of ultracold plasma

Signals of ultracold plasma are observed by two-photon ionization of laser-cooled caesium atoms in a magneto-optical trap. Recombination of ions and electrons into Rydberg atoms during the expansion of ultracold plasma is investigated by using state-selective field ionization spectroscopy. The dependences of recombination on initial electron temperature (1--70 K) and initial ion density ($ \sim $10$^{10}$ cm$^{ - 3})$ are investigated. The measured dependence on initial ion density is $N^{1.547\pm 0.004}$ at a delay time of 5 $\mu $s. The recombination rate rapidly declines as initial electron temperature increases when delay time is increased. The distributions of Rydberg atoms on different values of principal quantum number $n$, i.e. $n=30$--60, at an initial electron temperature of 3.3 K are also investigated. The main experimental results are approximately explained by the three-body recombination theory.     

Single crystal growth and characterizations of iron arsenide superconductor BaFe2-xNixAs2（0.0≤x≤0.12）

A series of big single crystals of BaFeFe_2-xNi_xAs₂ have been prepared by the FeAs self-flux method, with nominal nickel doping x = 0--0.12. The dimensions of the cleaved crystals are over 10~mm along ab plane and ～ 2~mm in maximum along the c direction. The measurements of x-ray diffraction, electrical resistance and magnetic property are carried out on the crystals. For the undoped parent compound BaFe₂As₂, both resistance and magnetization data display an anomaly associated with spin density wave and/or structural phase transition, with the transition temperatures at ～ 138~K. For Ni-doped BaFe_2-xNi_xAs₂ crystals, the superconducting critical temperature T_c ranges from 4.3~K for x=0.06 sample to 20~K for the optimally doped x=0.10 crystal.     

Photoluminescence evolution in self-ion-implanted and annealed silicon

Si⁺ ion-implanted silicon wafers are annealed at different temperatures from room temperature to 950~℃ and then characterized by using the photoluminescence (PL) technique at different recorded temperatures (RETs). Plentiful optical features are observed and identified clearly in these PL curves. The PL spectra of these samples annealed in different temperature ranges are correspondingly dominated by different emission peaks. Several characteristic features, such as an R line, S bands, a W line, the phonon-assistant W^\rm TA and Si^\rm TO peaks, can be detected in the PL spectra of samples annealed at different temperatures. For the samples annealed at 800~\du, emission peaks from the dislocations bounded at the deep energy levels of the forbidden band, such as D_1 and D₂ bands, can be observed at a temperature as high as 280~K. These data strongly indicate that a severe transformation of defect structures could be manipulated by the annealing and recorded temperatures. The deactivation energies of the main optical features are extracted from the PL data at different temperatures.     

Electron spin resonance investigation of the substitution of Fe3^＋ for Ti4^＋ ions in rutile TiO2 single crystal

A Fe doped rutile TiO 2 single crystal is grown in an O 2 atmosphere by the floating zone technique.Electron spin resonance (ESR) spectra clearly demonstrate that Fe 3+ ions are substituted for the Ti 4+ ions in the rutile TiO 2 matrix.Magnetization measurements reveal that the Fe:TiO 2 crystal shows paramagnetic behaviour in a temperature range from 5 K to 350 K.The Fe 3+ ions possess weak magnetic anisotropy with an easy axis along the c axis.The annealed Fe:TiO 2 crystal shows spin-glass-like behaviours due to the aggregation of the ferromagnetic clusters.     

A Simulation study of the cooling of an isolated metal sphere in aqueous media (quenching)

A quantitative study is carried of a metal cooling process in aqueous and water-polymer cooling liquids. In the study, an original spherical hot probe with a heat-insulated stem is used to simulate the cooling conditions of the operating part of the probe and to correspond to the cooling conditions of an isolated sphere. It has been shown that in this case the process consists of distinct consecutive stages, each of which can be studied separately in a quantitative way. The cooling process in all stages is described with a simple exponential relationship containing two parameters. One of these is the effective temperature of the cooling medium; the other is a time constant of the cooling process uniquely related to the heat dissipation coefficient. In the film boiling stage the effective temperature can be much lower than the nominal temperature; moreover, for cooling in cold water it is found to be lower than the absolute temperature, which indicates the dominant contribution of convection to the heat dissipation. The effective temperature of the medium is a monotonously increasing function of the nominal temperature and rises with rising liquid viscosity. Dependence of the cooling process time constant on the liquid temperature is influenced by two competing processes affecting convection, namely, by variations with temperature of the density and viscosity of a liquid. The effect of diminishing density becomes prevalent at temperatures of the liquid above ≈80°C.     

Synthesis, structure and antiferromagnetic behaviour of brannerite MnV2O6

Brannerite MnV 2 O 6 with plate-like shape is successfully synthesized by hydrothermal method.Its crystal structure and morphology are investigated by x-ray diffraction (XRD),scanning electron microscopy (SEM),transmission electron microscope (TEM),high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and select area electronic diffraction (SAED).The results show that the brannerite MnV 2 O 6 with monoclinic structure has a uniform plate-like shape with a diameter of about 5-8 μm and a thickness of about 500 nm.SAED patterns further confirm the structure of the brannerite MnV 2 O 6 and the single crystalline character of the plate crystal.Magnetic properties are measured by superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) in a temperature range of 2-300 K under a magnetic field of 1 T.The magnetic measurement results indicate that the material undergoes an antiferromagnetic transition with a N’eel temperature of 17 K.Above 50 K,the inverse susceptibility is fitted well to the Curie-Weiss law with a calculated moment of 5.98 μ B.Finally,the origin of antiferromagnetic behaviour in the brannerite MnV 2 O 6 is explained by means of Anderson model.     

Pseudo-potential investigations of structural, elastic and thermal properties of tungsten disilicide

The plane-wave pseudopotential method using the generalized gradient approximation within the density functional theory is used to investigate the structure and bulk modulus of WSi₂. The quasi-harmonic Debye model, using a set of total energy versus cell volume obtained with the plane-wave pseudopotential method, is applied to the study of the elastic properties and vibrational effects. We have analysed the bulk modulus of WSi₂ up to 1600~K. The major trend shows that the WSi₂ crystal becomes more compressible when the temperature rises and the increase of compressibility leads to the decrease of Debye temperature. The predicted temperature and pressure effects on the thermal expansion, heat capacity and Debye temperatures are determined from the non-equilibrium Gibbs functions and compared with the data available.     

Synthesis and high temperature thermoelectric transport properties of Si-based type-I clathrates

N-type Si-based type-I clathrates with different Ga content were synthesized by combining the solid-state reaction method, melting method and spark plasma sintering (SPS) method. The effects of Ga composition on high temperature thermoelectric transport properties were investigated. The results show that at room temperature, the carrier concentration decreases, while the carrier mobility increases slightly with increasing Ga content. The Seebeck coefficient increases with increasing Ga content. Among all the samples, Ba_7.93Ga_17.13Si_28.72 exhibits higher Seebeck coefficient than the others and reaches -135~μ V.K^-1 at 1000 K. The sample prepared by this method exhibits very high electrical conductivity, and reaches 1.95× 10⁵S.m^-1 for Ba_8.01Ga_16.61Si_28.93 at room temperature. The thermal conductivity of all samples is almost temperature independent in the temperature range of 300--1000~K, indicating the behaviour of a typical metal. The maximum {ZT} value of 0.75 is obtained at 1000~K for the compound Ba_7.93Ga_17.13Si_28.72.